US companies "interested" in South Sudan’s oil, says ambassador

June 26, 2013 (JUBA) - The US Ambassador to Juba, Susan Page said on Wednesday that companies from her country were interested in South Sudan’s oil, when asked about the subject at a press conference.

U.S Ambassador to South Sudan, Susan Page, speaking to reporters in Juba on June 26, 2013 (ST)

The American government helped negotiate the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between then government of Sudan and Southern rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), which allowed the South to secede in July 2011.

Ambassador Page disclosed that the US has donated $600 million to the new country in the last six years in aid to towards health, education and agriculture.

South Sudan’s oil industry is dominated by the companies that did deals with Khartoum before secession in 2011, with China, Malaysia and India besides France’s Total which holds a large but unexploited concession in Jonglei state.

Page pointed out that the US government does not "have oil companies as part of their machinery of the government" in the same way as other countries but said that among the US’s "independent" companies "there is a lot of interest oil and gas companies".

American companies were beginning to come to South Sudan, which she said was beginning to open up to more wider investment in the oil industry.

The SPLM government has "divided some of the blocks and sub-divided some of the blocks that have previously been granted and there is real interest in a number of American companies", the Ambassador said.

Many US companies are already operating in South Sudan in the field of exploration and logistics, she added.

In January 2012, South Sudan stopped oil production over a dispute with Khartoum, which appeared to have been resolved when export of Southern crude resumed earlier this year.

However, Sudan accused Juba of backing rebels north of the border and has threatened to stop oil production within two months it continues to harbour and support them.

Page noted that most international companies want to see a "stable and peaceful" environment before investing, pointing out that some of the blocks are in areas that "are not all that secured right now such as Jonglei state", where the military is fighting a rebel group which the South claims is backed by Khartoum.

Such issues are "going to be a concern for all big companies" she said but admitted that the "US would like to see more American companies here because they bring value and generally turn to have a more open and transparent process as well as making sure that they helped the communities where they engage."

South Sudan’s oil sector has been criticised in some quarters for lacking transparency by analysts and campaigning groups.

Page said encouraging the government to "abide by the contracts that have already been signed" would be a good thing "because that is very important for the people to know but also to allow for good deals if they can be made with American companies.”

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27 June 2013 07:28, by George Bol

We would evaluate the bid for oil investment,then we chose companies that we think can benefit South Sudan interest.My priority is the get access to defense system because we have been threaten by Khartoum. If we secure weapons from any country, I would go with it because we are limpo with Khartoum. As simple as that!

Dear All,
we will be very happy if you will take action instead of showing only your interest on our oil,because at the main time we are looking for action to be taken
I trust and prefer American companies than chains.
please decide and take action
long live South Sudan

"transparent process as well as making sure that they helped the communities where they engage."
The US of ol A! They engaged with the local communities that they operate-in as in South Africa’s Anglo-American mines in which the community workers were sprayed down with bullets as if it was a sport, not to mention various abuses of indigenous people in Niger delta, across africa, south america>>>

>>> & South east asia. Not to be ungrateful to the US citizens helps towards S Sudan & S Sudanese; but the current adminstration have shown its teeth & intentions glaringly that even our S Sudan’s cattle can spot. The US politics of juxtaposing corporatism with politics, diplomacy & bullyings will not buy it any willing admirers in S Sudan’s population. Yes, S Sudan needs investors, but it will>

>>> not be the US corporate establishment as we know it. Our investment laws that were ‘$USD cut and paste £UK’ with the blessings of the US & the UK foreign departments with their corporate buddies with pens & papers, with an idea that S Sudan, would be just another Anglo-America satellite state ready to be screwed for greed & geo-political maneuvers & when it turns out that S Sudanese>>>

>>> are not keen with these underhand intrigues, then are subjected to bullyings. If demcromacy and all it baggages do still lives in the current US and the UK political establishments; then our people should better keep oiling and keep their spears in shape for these govts are; but govts remotely micro-managed by the corporations, fascists & plutocrats. And they want us to stick to their>>>

>>> to their monsters in the North Sudan for their geo-politcal & corporate pleasures. They have been compaigning vigorously behind the scenes to discourage other willing nations to help S Sudan free itself away from N Sudan & its evil gulf states to build an alternative pipe line through a country that will not take us hotage for our wealth. Still believe the US & the UK moral superiority>>>

Tutbol
I salute you for outlining the truth about the imperialist U.S! But many of our brothers & sisters still believe that the U.S empire has their best interest at heart. Please educate the masses brother.

American are just sick. Why would want to come and invest where people are killing their fellow country men in order to steal public money.
It is because people of this country (South Sudan)are tribally oriented, uprising to topple the SPLM government is an appropriate option instead SPLM fucken convention and pre-ring 2015 election.

American companies are welcomed,but the biggest problem is the type of people who are found in that Region.What on earth do those dogs want.Oil will change their lives dramatically,they will no longer eat mud when hungry,they will no longer feed on waterlily when starving,they will no longer drink uncooked cow’s blood when hungry,malaria will be eradicated and much more...

As South Sudanese citizen living in Australia, I am really disappointed in relation to many things. But in particular how we get the dumb Chinese’s companies operates in South Sudan. Chinese do not pass simple integrity test specially, South Sudanese traditional practises. Chinese made weapons are now being use in Darfour. Can we simply accept the fact that China is a prostitute with no care.

Please as we are with Chinese, none of these South Sudanese leaders know how Chinese practices their business. I am from the west, a lawyer with superior skill. My advice to my beloved brothers and sisters, without prejudices, let us accept US, AU, Canada as business partners because they can be sue in their home country, but China cannot be sue in their own country.

To US ambassador,What?! US companies "interested" in South oil? why they didn’t show up until now? waiting for what? ironically not even small and unknown company showed up let alone US big oil companies like Chevron,ExxonMobil,Esso, etc!!Please Mrs ambassador stop selling dream to those people because you know very well

that US oil companies will never show up not just because of lacking security in the south which will put investors billion of dollars at great risk but the south oil itself is considered to be very tiny oil, unattractive economy wise!
If Chevron is interested then they would have never sold their rights and assets and left Sudan long time ago, I remember very well

when Karbino Kuanyin Bol attacked Chevron campaign in the south and put great fearful at their hearts and they immediately decided to leave Sudan for good and said to idiot guys "Bye Bye, enjoy your oil"!
US oil companies are busy now of exploring the huge US "tight" oil, the sandstone oil that they discovered recently in huge reservation close to US Rocky mountain

it requires very sophisticated technology and processes to produce the sandstone oil such as hydraulic fracturing but because of the oil high prices this expensive production could still be profitable, it’s just a matter of time till US becomes number one oil producer in the world!Mrs. ambassador please please stop selling dreams to those guys!

Good news from US Ambassador, No need for Chinese Companies in South Sudan as long as you have been seen all of the buildings which were consturcted by Chinese contractors since declaration of the RSS already damaged, they don’t construct any interested building like Beijing is it made sense? Let the government channelize the Pipeline to US Companies to control all of the corruption activities.

I think USA haven’t realized the potential of South Sudan oil to their economy yet. they have to invest by helping South Sudan gov. to constructs their own pipeline to East African countries. And I hope the contacts of this Communist companies (China) would be only relevance with Khartoum.

From USAID,UKAID,Norway,Japan and others never seen anything from chinese people for the needy people of south sudan.what is china busness here beneficial to our illness population than producing large number of weapons to Bashir regime so as to get rid of us from the south and to continue exploring our oil.welcome note! from page susan.

This is what we hope from US one day will note the world that, it has interest in South Sudan Rich Oil regardless of the thieving activities which have been played by Chinese and Khartoum.Long Live South Sudan Nation for Future Image.

u seem 2 be more interesting in US companies, is,t it? what of your own companies as some of our people are so rich they can own big companies of they cooperate and we citizen encourage them to continues with that spirit of togetherness without figure point at particular person or group even if they are turncoats as we know them.May almighty lord bless South Sudan to grow on her own 4ever......

with concern of others and my own let South Sudan be independent as we called Republic of South Sudan without interference from outsiders, "we are confidence of our own decision" we can give our contracts to anyone we choose by not being intimidated. otherwise we will calls God to judge third intruders or to give us interferon in fighting back these intrusive.

’One good turn deserve another’, I welcomed USA companies to do oils business with us. Welcome USA and go ahead to build our oils line up to Lamu-Kenya. We better share with you this gift called oils to us by God than we wasted it through Khartoum in condition.

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